REGION
Thursday, February 3, 2022
East Oregonian
A3
PENDLETON
Pool sees big attendance bump fi rst summer back
By ANTONIO SIERRA
East Oregonian
PENDLETON — While
Eastern Oregon still is in the
dregs of winter, Pendleton
Parks & Recreation is high-
lighting sunnier times for the
Pendleton Aquatic Center.
At a Tuesday, Feb. 1 meet-
ing, the department shared
a report showing a strong
bounceback year for the
aquatic center in 2021 after
the pool took a gap year in
2020 in light of the corona-
virus pandemic.
According to the report,
the $391,989 in revenue the
aquatic center made in 2021
was a 20% jump from 2019.
Revenue was up in nearly
every category, including
daily admission, season
passes, swim lessons and
merchandise. Total atten-
dance rose by nearly 2,000
people compared to 2019.
Jeff Hamilton, who super-
vises the aquatic center as
the department’s recreation
supervisor, said city staff
weren’t “wishy-washy”
about how to operate the
pool during the pandemic,
committing early to closing
it in 2020 and then doing the
same when reopening it in
2021. He said he thinks the
city’s early decisions helped
put the aquatic center in a
good position to reap the
rewards when people were
ready to enjoy outdoor activ-
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian, File
Poolgoers cool off June 29, 2021, at the Pendleton Family
Aquatic Center as the temperature reached 117 degrees.
Pendleton Parks & Recreation reported the aquatic center
made $391,989 in 2021, a 20% jump from 2019.
ities again after the COVID-
19-induced shutdowns.
Parks & Recreation Direc-
tor Liam Hughes said the
aquatic center has long been
trending in the right direc-
tion, a pattern he attributed
to long-term investment
from the department such
as improved marketing to
people outside the Pendleton
area.
2021 saw the introduction
of a senior pass program,
which brought in $3,585 in
its fi rst year. Hamilton said
seniors were among the many
new faces he saw last year.
“We had people swim-
ming laps I had never seen
swimming laps (before),”
he said. “There were people
that were just there enjoying
themselves.”
The Pendleton Aquatic
Center always has required
a substantial subsidy from
the city’s general fund, but
the success of 2021 brings
it slightly closer to sustain-
ability.
Hamilton said pool reve-
nue has typically covered
about half of its costs, and his
ultimate goal is for it to cover
around 70-75% of the aquatic
center’s expenses.
While the pool’s reve-
nue appears to exceed its
expenses on paper, Hughes
said there are long-term
maintenance and overhead
expenses that require addi-
tional funds from the city,
Hughes said the pool likely
won’t ever reach full self-suf-
fi ciency because it aims to
keep its fares affordable
for Pendleton residents. He
added the aquatic center’s
prices are much cheaper than
private pools.
“There is a balance to be
struck between making it
accessible to the public and
cost recovery,” he said.
Once the weather gets
warmer, parks and rec
will begin hiring dozens
of seasonal employees to
staff the aquatic center’s
front desk, sell snacks at the
concession stand and keep
an eye on swimmers as life-
guards. A tight labor market
has put pressure on low-wage
employers to keep all their
positions fi lled, and the parks
and recreation sector has
been no exception. Hamilton
said he’s spoken with other
parks and recreation offi cials
across the state, some of
whom are turning to super-
visors to fi ll empty lifeguard
positions.
Hamilton said the aquatic
center hired 57 seasonal
employees last year and he
doesn’t anticipate facing a
shortage this year. He added
the pool has a “fun factor” he
can sell to the high school and
college students the aquatic
center tends to hire, and
because he personally hires
and trains all his staff , he can
foster the kind of relation-
ships that brings employees
back for future summers.
Survey: How do you consume your news?
By ERICK PETERSON
East Oregonian
HER MISTON — A
University of Oregon survey
is reaching out to Hermis-
ton residents with questions
about their media prefer-
ences.
Where do you go to learn
of news? What type of infor-
mation is most important to
you? How informed do you
feel about things happening
in your community? All of
these questions, and more,
are on the survey, which
is part of a larger initiative
called Sustainable City Year
Program, is available at bit.
ly/uosurvey-hermiston.
Andrew DeVigal, profes-
sor at the UO School of Jour-
nalism and Communication,
is one of the people behind
the survey.
“Increasing our knowl-
edge of how information is
received and shared in a local
information ecosystem would
be good for our communities
and information providers,
such as news organizations
and community organiza-
tions,” DeVigal said.
He said he is teaching
a class on how “journal-
ism can authentically start
with community fi rst in its
coverage of the community.”
Referred to as “participa-
tory journalism” or “social
journalism,” DeVigal’s work
centers on communities.
He described a move-
ment in journalism that has
been infl uential to the work
behind the survey. People
within journalism, he said,
are looking to better under-
stand informational flow.
Initiatives, such as the Listen-
ing Post Collective and this
survey seek to learn how
information passes from one
person or organization to
another.
The survey asks for demo-
graphic information, name
and contact information, if a
person should want to answer.
Ethnicity, home location and
how long someone has lived
in town also are questions on
the survey.
Then, the survey gets
into questions about media
consumption — websites,
social media use, etc. Also,
it asks for physical locations,
such as a farmers market or a
church, where people obtain
information.
In learning about how
people receive their news,
DeVigal said, researchers
can discover the best ways
to communicate to people.
The survey also attempts
to discover the information
people want to know, which
can be helpful to local politi-
cians, too.
DeVigal said the survey
will end by the second or
third week of February, and
he should have results by the
end of March.
Sustainable City Year
Program
The program has orga-
nized UO classes, such as
DeVigal’s, to get a deep dive
into understanding a partic-
ular city. The initiative now
is focusing on Hermiston,
collaborating with its city
government. Information
suggesting recommendations
will be shared with the city.
The program has focused
on other Oregon cities in the
past, but this is the fi rst time
it has worked with an East-
ern Oregon city, according to
Megan Banks, the Sustain-
able City director.
“We want to span the
entire state,” Banks said.
Because Hermiston is the
city with the largest popu-
lation in Eastern Oregon, it
made sense to select it for
study, she said.
Banks complimented the
town as forward-thinking
and added her program has
worked on other Hermiston
projects recently. She said
those collaborations have
been productive.
“We’re lucky to be work-
ing with Hermiston,” she said.
“A lot of this comes down to
how the city approaches the
partnership, and (Hermiston)
has been very welcoming and
extremely knowledgeable. I
have nothing but good things
to say about the city staff
CONCEALED CARRY
PERMIT CLASS
SATURDAY
FEBRUARY 19 TH
Hermiston
Ranch & Home
and community.”
Byron Smith, Hermiston
city manager, said he is very
happy with Sustainable City.
Also, he said he is looking
forward to the results of the
survey.
“We are looking for ways
that people get information so
we can be a better source of
information,” he said.
Banks said UO will be
doing more studies in Herm-
iston in the coming months.
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian, File
Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution, Pendleton, hous-
es approximately 1,700 adults in custody, according to
data from the Oregon Department of Corrections. An of-
fi cer at the medium-security prison is under investigation
for supplying drugs to inmates.
EOCI correction offi cer
is under investigation
By PHIL WRIGHT
East Oregonian
PENDLETON — An
offi cer at Eastern Oregon
Correctional Institution,
Pendleton, is under investi-
gation for supplying drugs
to inmates.
Jesse Myer, Milton-Free-
water police officer and
a detective with the Blue
Mountain Enforcement
Narcotics Team, or BENT,
fi led a search warrant affi -
davit Jan. 28 in Umatilla
County Circuit Court
explaining what set off the
investigation.
EOCI in late 2021 and
early 2022 saw an increase
in the number of adults in
custody who tested posi-
tive for drugs, specifi cally
methamphetamine and
marijuana, according to the
affi davit. The medium-se-
curity prison from June to
November had 20 inmates
test positive for various
narcotics. But in Decem-
ber, seven men in custody
tested positive, and five
were for marijuana. In Janu-
ary, the number jumped
to 25 inmates who tested
positive, most for meth and
marijuana.
The prison had shutdown
visitation with inmates on
Jan. 4 due to coronavirus
restrictions, according to
the affi davit, leaving EOCI
staff as the only way for
drugs to get inside.
One adult in custody,
according to Myer’s affi-
davit, provided informa-
tion that one corrections
officer was supplying
meth and marijuana prod-
ucts. Then a second inmate
came forward and named
the same offi cer. In early
January, a third inmate also
named same offi cer as the
drug supplier, saying he
saw the officer exchange
“balloons” containing meth,
cocaine and marijuana with
inmates.
A review of surveillance
video, the affi davit stated,
confi rmed the transaction
with the inmates.
The East Oregonian is
not identifying the offi cer at
this time because the inves-
tigation is ongoing and there
have been no arrests.
VISIT US ON THE WEB AT:
www.EastOregonian.com
We’re closing our doors
FOREVER!
After serving Pendleton
for 20 years, it is
time to retire.
All jewelry, watches, clocks and
giftware drastically reduced for
9AM
CLASS
immediate sale
Multi-State $ 80
Oregon Included No Fee
Oregon Only $ 45
MULTI-STATE
2/4-2/10
Cineplex Show Times
Theater seating will adhere to social distancing protocols
Every showing $7.50 per person (ages 0-3 still free)
Valid 35-States, including Washington
Moonfall (PG13)
4:50p 7:50p
extra 1:50p showing 2/4-2/6
Jackass Forever (R)
4:00p 6:40p 9:20p
extra 1:20p showing 2/4-2/6
Scream 2022 (R)
4:10p 6:50p 9:30p
extra 1:30p showing 2/4-2/6
Sing 2 (PG)
3:50p 6:30p 9:10p
extra 1:10p showing 2/4-2/6
wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850
Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216
including cases, furniture, displays,
even some tools and equipment
Shaun
Shaun Curtain
Curtain 360-921-2071
360-921-2071
or or email:
email: ShaunCurtain@gmail.com
ShaunCurtain@gmail.com | www.ShaunCurtain.com.com
| www.ShaunCurtain.com.com
FEEL THE SPEED,
EVEN AT PEAK TIMES.
Get strong, fast Wi-Fi to work and
play throughout your home. ^
No annual contract.
Based on wired connection to gateway.
Spider-Man:
No Way Home (PG13)
4:20p 7:40p
extra 1:00p showing 2/4-2/6
EVERYTHING MUST GO !
Power multiple devices at once—
everyone can enjoy their own screen.
Number of devices depends on screen size/resolution.
Over 99% reliability.
Excludes DSL. Based on network availability.
AT&T
INTERNET 100
††
45
$
/mo *
For 12 mos, plus taxes & equip. fee. $10/mo equip. fee applies.
Limited availability in select areas. *Price after $5/mo
Autopay & Paperless bill discount (w/in 2 bills).
Limited availability in select areas. May not be available inyour area.
Call or goto att.com/internetto see if you qualify.
Contact your local DIRECTV dealer
IV Support Holdings
888-486-0359
INTERNET OFFER: Subj. to change and may be discontinued at any time. Price for Internet 100 for new residential customers & is after $5/mo. autopay & paperless bill discount. Pricing for first 12 months only. After 12 mos., then
prevailing rate applies. Autopay & Paperless Bill Discount: Discount off the monthly rate when account is active & enrolled in both. Pay full plan cost until discount starts w/in 2 bill cycles. Must maintain autopay/paperless bill and valid email
address to continue discount. Additional Fees & Taxes: AT&T one-time transactional fees, $10/mo. equipment fee, and monthly cost recovery surcharges which are not government-required may apply, as well as taxes. See www.att.com/fees for
details. Installation: $99 installation for full tech install, plus tax where applicable. Credit restrictions apply. Pricing subject to change. Subj. to Internet Terms of Service at att.com/internet-terms. ^AT&T Smart Wi-Fi requires installation of a
BGW210, 5268AC, or NVG599 Wi-Fi Gateway. Standard with Internet plans (12M or higher). Whole home Wi-Fi connectivity may require AT&T Smart Wi-Fi Extender(s) sold separately. ††Internet speed claims represent maximum network service
capability speeds and based on wired connection to gateway. Actual customer speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on several factors. For more information, go to www.att.com/speed101.
©2021 DIRECTV. DIRECTV and all other DIRECTV marks are trademarks of DIRECTV, LLC. AT&T and Globe logo are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property.
All sales are final!
Take advantage of these great
deals just in time to buy for
Valentine's Day!